Following the September 18, 2003 vote by the Lapeer County Board of Commissionrs in favor of an anti-GLBT, anti-marriage resolution soaked in heterosexism and lies, two residents of Lapeer County, Gale Crooks and Joe DeNeen, along with dozens of friends, neighbors and strangers organized the Equal Rights Rally on October 4, 2003.

The rally was the first rally of its kind in Lapeer County advocating for gay, lesbian, bi and trans (GLBT) persons, a truly grassroots movement that brought out over 300 people in protest, with over twenty speakers representing an equal number of groups, organizations and political parties.

Impressed at the diverse nature of those supporting the protest (straight persons, religious persons of all sects, members from the peace movement and progressive political parties), we realized the universality of our protest.  At the rally, a table was set up to collect a list of Lapeer County residents interested in forming a more permanent presence in our county to pro-actively oppose further injustice and promote equal rights.

Again, the diversity of those county residents was remarkable, and made us realize that in seeking GLBT equal rights, we must embrace and work toward the rights of others.  This realization culminated in the formation of what today is LCERA:   the Lapeer County Equal Rights Alliance.